Fixtures for hanging wall to wall drapes



Oct. 27, 1959 l. STERN ETAL FIXTURES FOR HANGING WALL TO WALL DRAPES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 6, 1958 INVENTORS. ISIDOR STE RN BENJfimIN BI. UM

Oct. 27, 1959 1. STERN ETAL FIXTURES FOR HANGING WALL TO WALL DRAPES Filed June '6, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ISIDOR STERN BLUM JU'TURNEY Oct. 27, 1959 I. STERN ETAL FIXTURES FOR HANGING WALL TO WALL DRAPES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 6, 1958 INVENTOR-S ISID OR STERN BBNJHMIN BLUDL ATTORNEY Oct. 27, 1959 STERN ET AL 2,910,121

FIXTURES FOR HANGING WALL TO WALL DRAPES Filed June 6, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 VIIIIIIIIIIII! mmmm INVENTOR: ISID UR STERN BY BENJHMIN BLUM .HTTURNEY Oct. 27, 1959 1. STERN ETAL FIXTURES FOR HANGING WALL T0 WALL DRAPES Filed June 6, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS ISIDEIR STERN BENJHMIN BLUll United States Patent a 2,910,121 Patented Oct. 27, 1959,

FIXTURES FOR HANGING WALL TO WALL DRAPES This invention relates to improved means for supporting draperies and the like.

More particularly, the present invention relates to means for supporting draperies that extend from wall to wall of a room.

Drape traverse rods that extend for a considerable distance have a tendency because of the weight of the drapes and of the rod itself to sag at the center. Furthermore, because ofthe size of such drapes, it is diflicult to lift same to the desired height to apply them to the supporting rod.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention to provide a drape traverse rod with means for preventing sagging thereof at the center.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for readily raising and lowering the drape supporting rod whereby the drapes may be readily applied to and taken off of the rod. v

A specific object of the invention'is to provide an improved drapery support that is adjustable in a vertical direction so that normally while supporting drapes, it is disposed in position extending across the top of the wall or window, it can be readily lowered to permit attachment of the drapes without inconvenience or danger so far as the housewife is concerned. In other words, a housewife need not stand upon a ladder, chair or the like or assume other hazardous postures while hanging or removing a drape or drapes.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a drape support that will be particularly designed for attachment thereto of any of a substantial number of different types of conventional drapery rod support brackets. In this way it is proposed to adapt the support for use in supporting a large variety of transverse drapery rods, either of the single or double type.

A further object of importance is to provide a drape supporting assembly of the character stated that is designed for accurate, smooth travel of the supported drape rod between its normal upper portion and its lowered position.

The present invention further contemplates providing means for connecting a number of drape supporting units line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

line 17 17 of Fig. 1..

in juxtaposed side-by-side relation for supporting drapes across a room of large expanse such as found in banks, hotels, banquet halls and the like.

Yet another object of importance is to provide a device of the type stated that will be of comparatively low cost, considering the desirable characteristics thereof, and that can be manipulated by unskilled persons, and maintained economically.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming almaterial part of this disclosure: .5 I M Fig. 1 isa part perspective and part sectional view of a room, with a window extending from side wall to side wall,.equipped with means for supporting a drape or the like in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of a trackway and slide for use on one side wall of the room with a rope and drape rod bracket applied thereto.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the trackway used on the opposite side wall of the room.

Fig. 4 is. a fragmentary view similar-t0 Fig. 2, onan enlarged scale. 1

Fig. 5 is an enlarged top plan view of shown in Fig. 2, parts being omitted. f

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the-trackway shown in Fig. 2. 1

Fig. 7 is a view showing the trackway shown in Fig. 3 as viewed approximately from the line 7-7 of Fig. 1 Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the the trackway Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 7 of the trackway shown in Fig. 2. V

Fig. 10 is an exploded perspectiveview showing the assembly of one of the slides with an associated rod support bracket and drape rod.

Fig. 10A is a perspective view of the Fig. 10, in assembled position. I

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view on the same scale as Fig. 10 taken substantially on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10, portions being broken away.

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the'supporting bracket on the ceiling. I

Fig. 13 is a bottom plan view thereof removed from the ceiling.

Fig. 14 is a spread top perspective view of the'bracket and roller on the drape rod.

m Fig. 15 is a side elevational view thereof in assembled condition. Fig. 16 is a perspective view of one of the drapery rod end supporting brackets.

Fig. '17 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through one of the trackways, taken substantially on the parts shown in Fig. -18 isv a sectional view taken on the plane'of the line 18-48 of Fig. 1. p

Fig. 19 is a front elevational view showing a modification,with one drapery rod being shown in topmost position, the other being shown midway the top and bottom.

Fig..20 is a view as seen approximately from the line 20-20 of Fig. 19, the supporting plate being shown in dotted lines. I

Referring to the drawings in detail, in Fig. 1 there is shown diagrammatically the side walls 7 and 8, and ceiling 9 of a room. A window opening is cut in the front wall. extending substantially from side wall to. side wall. A window 11 is installed in the opening as illustrated.

In accordance with the present invention, a support for a single drape or for a pair of drapes (not shown) is provided and is designated generally at 22. This support includes a pair of sectional trackways generally designated at 24, 26. These trackways are identical to one another, except for the construction at the upper ends thereof. The tracks are mounted in vertical positions, on the side walls 7 and 8, being-secured to thewalls by means of screws 28 which are spaced longitudinally of the respective trackways passing through spaced openings 29 therein.

'Each trackway. is adjustable as to length, thus to accommodate the invention to windows or walls haying different vertical dimensions. As a result, the ftrackways comprise upper sections 30,32 of the respective "trackways 24, 26, and lower track sections 34, 36. The lowersections and upper sections of'the respective trackways are telescopically, slidably related, and in mounting the device upon a window or wall, the sections are telescopically adjusted to produce a trackway 24 or 2.6 of the "desired length. 'Thereafter'the screws 28 are extended through registering openings of the respective track sections, so as to fixedly secure the sections to the sidewalls, in'a manner to hold the sections of each trackway against relative movement following selection of the desired, adjusted length. The trackways extenddownwardly from the ceiling.

As will be noted from Figs. Zand 3, the telescopically related track sections 30, Marc formed with confronting, longitudinalflanges 30 and 34', respectively, 'and's'ections 32'and 36 have similar'flanges 32 and '36, respectively. Each trackway, thus, may be considered as having inwardly directed guide flanges, said 'guide flanges being spaced apart along the longitudinal median-of the trackway to provide-a guide slot 38 in the trackway 24, and a guidcslot 40 in the trackway 26.

Slidablewithin the trackways are slides generally designated at 42, 44. These are of identical but opposite construction so the description'of onewill'suflice for both.

The slide 42 will thus be described, and as will be noted from Figs. 4 this includes a front'or mainplate 46 of rectangular configuration, elongated in a direction longitudinally of the associated trackway 24, and provided with upper andlower central openings 47. Plate 46 is integrally formed, along its 'outer longitudinal edge, with an elongated support arm 48. Arm 48 is spaced from the surface of the side wall a distance greater than is the plate 46, as will be noted from Fig. 9, through the provision of an offset 50 constituting an integral connection between arm 48 and plate '46. "Further, aswill be'noted from Fig. l0, arm 48 is offset longitudinally of the plate 46 so that arm 48 for approximately half its length projects above the upper end of the plate 46 and forms an extension thereof.

The arm '48 has a number of pairs "of'screw-threaded openings 52 spaced longitudinally and transversely thereof. The purpose 'of these several-openings is to permit any of a large number of conventional drapery traverse rod support brackets to be attached to the arm. In the illustrated example, the drapery rod end support bracket 58 is of a very well-known type. 'The brackets 58 on the end of the drape rod are of identical but opposite 'con struction. Each bracket comprises a rectangular-shaped plate like body 60 having a flange 61 along one long edge thereof, the other long edge being curled as indicated at 62. The plate-like body is formed with spaced holes 63 for registry with the openingsSZ of the arm '48 so that the bracket can be secured to'the arm'48 by screws 64 or equivalent fastening elements extending through'the 'openings. The openings '52 of arm 48'are preferably threaded. Along the fianged=long edge of the bracket, the body is formed at its .end with an inwardly extending inverted U-shaped clip 65, closely spaced from the adjacent end of the flange 61.

A drapery traverse rod 66 of conventional design is slidably supported by the 'trackways 24, 26 across the space therebetween. The rod 66-comprises two sections 67 and 68 telescopically arranged and slidable relative to 'eachother. Each rod section is formed of a rectangularshaped-channel-like body 69 having opposed flanges 70 along the top long edges thereof'and with an angularshaped'head'69 at one end thereof. Thebody is formed with a centralj'slot 71'opening rearwardly as viewed in Fig. 1, the slots 71 forming a trackway, when the sections are in telescoped relation fora pair of slidable drape supporting brackets 72 having spaced slots 73 for receiving drape fastening elements, said brackets being of conventional construction and being adapted to bemoved in opposite directions away from each other to open the drapes and toward each other to close the drapes. The slidable brackets are actuated by a cord 74 which is doubled upon itself and moves around a pair of spaced pulleys 75 supported on the head 69' at one end of one section of the rod and around a similar pair of spaced pulleys 76 on the head 69' at the other end of the other section of the rod. One reach of the cord is fastened to one of the slidable brackets '72 in such a manner that when one reach of the cord, for example reach 77, is pulled the supporting brackets 72 are drawn toward each other for closing the drapes and when the other reach, for example reach 78, is pulled the supporting devices or brackets 72 are pulled away from each other to open the drapes in the ordinary manner. A plurality of slidable hooks or fingers 79 of plastic are slidably mounted in the trackway 71 of the rod for securing the drapes thereto. A hook 67 is carried by each head 69' for interlocking with .the adjacent clip 65 of the bracket 58.

Aslidable support indicated generally at 80 is mounted on one of the sections of the drapery rod 66. The support is composed of two superposed plate members 81 and 82 having hooked ends 83 and 84, respectively, interlocking with the flanges 70 on the drape rod section. Apair of spaced brackets 85, 86 are mounted on the top plate 81 and supporta roller 87 therebetween. Plate 82 'is slidable relative to plate 81 and is adapted to be held in adjusted position by a screw 88, extending through an elongated slot'82' in plate '82 and a slot in plate 81. The support .80 is adapted to be moved into alignment with an overhead support 90 on the ceiling 9. Support 90 comprises a supporting plate 91 secured to the ceiling by a screw 92 passing through an opening 89 in the plate. Depending from each end of the supporting plate there is a pair of brackets '93 and journalled in each .pair of brackets there is a roller'94. A support for the rollers 94 instead of being mounted on the ceiling might take the form of "an adjustable bracket mounted on the end wall of'the room and disposed over the support 80.

In order to mount the slide 42 or 44 slidably in its respective trackway, a pair of vertically aligned guide blocks 95, 96 is 'secured'to the back surface of the plate 46 by rivets passing'through openings 47 at the upper and lower ends, respectively, of said plate. In order to reinforce. the construction, ahacking plate 87' of metal material is provided, having openings 99 at its opposite ends receiving the rivets 99', said backing plate extending between and being in contact with the back surfaces of the blocks '95, '96. The blocks 95, 96 are formed with opposed side grooves 100 to receive the flanges 34' and '36 of the trackway sections.

-PIate87' is formed with anexten'sionhaving an opening 101 through which the end of a rope or cable 102 passes and is fastened to 'theplate by a loop 103. The rope is of the type commonly used on household Venetian blinds. The rope 'or flexible element 102 of the slide 42 'is :extended upwardly, longitudinally and cen- 'trally of trackway 24, as shown in 'Fig. l, and at the upper end of the trackway is trained around a roller 104 that=is journalled in the upper end of "the trackway 24.

'On the upper end of the trackway 26 and fastened thereto in any suitable manner as by soldering, welding or the like, there is a housing 105. The housing extends to one side of the trackway and above the same and includes parallel front and rear walls '106, 107 connected at one side by a wall 108, 'the top and bottom ends of the housingbeing'open. A pair of pulleys 109, 1 10 are supportedon shafts 1'11 extending between the front and rear walls in horizontally aligned relation and in closely spaced relation. Pulleys 109, 110 are of the double grooved type. The rear'wall 107 extends slightly beyond the front wall 106 and'mounted -on said rear wall is .a pair .of closely spaced brackets 112 supporting a roller 113.; The roller 113 is so arranged that it extends ina plane :at right angles .to .the plane of the opening of the outer grooves in pulleys 109, 110 but its top surface is disposed on the same horizontal plane as the plane of the outer grooves of said pulleys 109, 110 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

7 From the roller 104 at the top of the trackway 24, the rope 102 extends along the top of the window over one of the pulleys 94 supported on the ceiling 9, downwardly around the roller 87 supported on the top of the section of the drapery rod 66, then upwardly over the other pulley 94 on the ceiling, then along the window and around the roller 113 supported on the plate 107 on side wall 8 where it takes a turn and passes over the outer grooves of pulleys 109, 110 and then downwardly along the outside of the trackway 26, as shown in Fig. 8, and is then doubled upon itself and extended upwardly in side-by-side relationship and is then trained over the inner grooves of pulleys 109, 110. The reaches of the rope then pass downwardly along the trackway 26 and the rope is fastened-to the plate 87 of the slide 44. The side-by-side reaches of the rope are held in close relationship by a tubular stabilizer 114, similar to the device used on a Venetian blind actuating member sleeved around the free ends of the rope. Conjoint movement of both slides 42 and 44 is thus ensured when the rope 102 is pulled. The rope 102 at the same time supports the drapery rod 66 midway its ends thereby preventing saggingof the rod. Downward movement of the slides is limited by lips 115 formed on the bottom ends of the trackways.

Locking mechanism, similar to the locking mechanism used in an ordinary Venetian blind construction is provided for holding the rope 102 and slides 42, 44 in moved adjusted position. This mechanism includes an arm 116 pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 117 supported between the front and rear walls of the housing 105 below the pulleys 109, 110. The distal end of the arm is sufficiently broad to span both reaches of the flexible element and is provided with teeth 118 which are normally in line with the periphery of the pulley 110 whereby a clearance is provided for the passage of the flexible element between the teeth and the side wall 108 of the housing. When the slide members 42 and 44- have been moved to the desired height along the trackways 24, 26, a tug or jerk on the rope 102 laterally will force the rope against the arm 116 whereby the teeth 118 thereon will bite into the rope and hold said element from further movement. The teeth will be held in biting position by the weight of the slides and the drapery rod.

In order to release the arm 116 from the rope, the rope is given a jerk laterally away from the arm thereby forcing the rope from the teeth of the arm and permitting the arm to drop by gravity away from the rope.

In installing the apparatus, the upper sections 30, 32 of the trackways are secured to the side walls with the uppermost of section 30 reaching to the ceiling and of section 32 reaching to housing 105. These sections are secured by screws 28 passing through two or more openings 29 in each section. The lower track sections 34, 36 are then inserted into the upper sections to the desired height and then screwed to the side walls. A single screw is sufiicient for each lower section.

In use, it will be apparent that with the rope 102 in released position, the rope may be manipulated to move the slides 42, 44 and supported drapery rod 66 along the trackways to any desired position, between the top and bottom of the Window or wall. The rod can thus be brought down to within easy reach of the user so that the drape or drapes may be readily attached to or removed from the drapery rod. The rod iself, of course, can be readily removed from the slides at this time. The slides will remain in the proper adjusted position, horizontally aligned and ready to receive the rod once again when the drapery rod is to be elevated to its use position. This is so by reason of the locking action described and illustrated. In other words, the slides can be locked against downward movement from the proper adjusted position.

After the drapes have been placed in supported position upon the drapery rod 66, one pulls downwardly upon the connected reaches of the rope 102, thus raising the slides conjointly, said slides remaining in horizontal alignment due to the stabilizer 114. When the drapery rod has been raised to the desired position, the rope is jerked laterally into biting engagement with the pivotal arm 116 and the drapes will now be supported in proper height upon the window or wall.

The drapes may be parted by pulling on the proper reach of the cord 74 such as the reach 77, for example, and may be closed by pulling on the other reach, the reach 78 for example, as will be understood.

Referring now to Figs. 19 and 20, the modification shown herein is for use in a room of large dimensions, indicated generally at 119, such as a banking room, banquet hall and the like, having side walls 120, 121, ceiling 122 and floor 123. in such a large room, two or more drape supporting units or assemblies 125, 126, in side-by-side relation, are utilized in order to support drapes (not shown) from side wall to side wall. The units are supported by the side walls 120, 121 and by a support 127 erected at the longitudinal center of the room intermediate the ends of the room.

Each of the drape supporting units or assemblies 125, 126 is similar in construction to the form of drape supporting device 22 shown in Figs. 1-18 and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts.

The central support 127 extends from floor to ceiling and comprises a supporting plate 130 secured to the ceiling by screws 131.v Formed integrally with plate 130 and depending therefrom is a flat bar 132. A vertically disposed trackway indicated generally at 135, similar to trackway 26, is disposed along one surface of the bar 132 and comprises a lower section 136 and an upper section 137, each section having a channel-shaped slotted body such as the trackway sections 30, 34, and 32, 36 of the trackways 24, 26, respectively. The slots in said sections 136, 137 open toward one side wall, the wall 121, for example, as viewed in Fig. 19. The upper section 137 is cut away at the top leaving an upstanding flange 137, the cut-away portion providing a clearance for the rope 102. The lower section 136 is telescopically and slidably mounted inside the upper section 137 and when properly adjusted for the proper height of the room is secured to the floor 123 by means of a screw 138 extending through an opening in a foot 139 on the bottom end of the lower section.

The upper section 137 is fastened to the surface of the bar 132 by welding or soldering.

Another vertically disposed trackway indicated gener ally at 140 is disposed along the opposite surface of the bar 132 and is constructed similarly to trackway with a lower section 141 and an upper section 142, the lower section being secured to the floor after adjustment by a screw 143 and the upper section 142 being fastened to the surface of the bar 132 by welding or the like. The slots in the sections open toward the opposite side wall 120. The supporting plate 130, the upper sections 137 and 142 are formed integrally and form a unit, the bar 132 serving to space the lower sections from each other to permit ready adjustment thereof.

In this modification of the invention, the central trackway 135 serves to support and guide the slide 42 and the trackway 26 on the side wall 121 serves to support the housing 105 with its supported pulleys 109, 110, roller 113 and locking mechanism, and to guide the slide 44 of the unit 126.

The central trackway 140, on the other hand, serves to support the housing 105 and its supported pulleys 109, 110, roller 113 and locking mechanism and guide the slide44 of the unit 125. The trackway 24 on the side 7 wall -120 is similar to trackway 24 of the form of Fig. 1 and serves to guide the slide 42 of'the unit 125.

The drapery traverse rods 66 of the units 125, 126 are manipulated separately by the ropes 102, the ropes also serving to support the rods at the center thereof as in the form of Fig. l to prevent sagging of the rods. The drapes are spread apart and closed separately by the cord reaches 77, 78 of cord 74 as in the first form of the invention.

The central support will be hidden from view by the drapes whether the drapes are open or closed and therefore such support is inconspicuous and will not interfere with the interior decorations of the room.

As many units or assemblies may be used as are necessary to span the room with drapes, as will be understood.

While We have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent 1. Apparatus of the kind described, comprising a pair of units disposed end to end across a room for supporting drapery traverse rods in alignment, a flat bar depending from the center of the room, each unit including a vertically disposed trackway at each end thereof, one trackway of each unit being secured to the side wall of the room, said side trackways being oppositely disposed, the other trackway of each unit being secured to said flat bar, the other trackway of one unit being secured to one face of the bar-and the other trackway of the other unit being secured to the opposite face of the bar, a pair of slides traveling in the respective trackways, said slides in each trackway supporting a drapery traverse rod supporting bracket, a drapery traverse rod removably carried by the brackets of each unit, means including a rope for the trackways of each unit for efiecting simultaneous movement of the slides within the trackways, automatic means for releasably holding the slides in selected positions to which they are moved, and means disposed intermediate the ends of each drapery traverse rod for preventing sagging of said rod-intermediate its ends, said latter means including a slidable plate mounted on the drapery rod midway its ends, a roller mounted on said plate adapted to engage the rope of the respective pair of trackways.

2. Apparatus of the kind described comprising a pair of units disposed end to end across a room for supporting drapery traverse rods in alignment, a fiat bar depending from the center of the room, each unit including a vertically disposed trackway at each end thereof, each trackway including telescopically channel-shaped body sections, one trackway of each unit being secured to the side wall of the room, said side trackways being oppositely disposed, the other trackway of each unit being secured to said fiat bar, one channel-shaped body section of the other trackway of one unit being secured to one face of the bar, one channel-shaped body section of the other trackway of the other unit being secured to the opposite face of the bar, the other channel-shaped body section of the trackways being slidable in said one channel-shaped body section, said other channel-shaped body sections being secured to the floor of the room after adjustment, a pair of slides traveling in the respective trackways, said slides in each trackway supporting a drapery traverse rod supporting bracket, a drapery traverse rod removably carried by the brackets of each unit, means including a rope for the trackways of each unit for effecting simultaneous movement of the slides within the trackways, automatic means for releasably holding the slides in selected positions to which they are moved, and means disposed intermediate the ends of each drapery traverse rod for preventing sagging of said rod intermediate its ends, said latter means including a slidable plate mounted on the drapery rod midway its ends, a roller mounted on said plate adapted to engage the rope of the respective pair of trackways.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

